Spermicidal compositions



. l 1 s l i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPERMICIDAL COMPOSITIONS Abraham Taub, New York, N. Y., assignor to Julius Schmid, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York No Drawing. Application November 21, 1950, Serial No. 196,960

14 Claims.

The present invention relates to. an improved spermicidal composition. This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 609,323, filed August 6, 19,45, for Spermicidal Composition, now abandoned.

It is well known that heretofore various spermicidal compositions have been used. Of the various types heretofore employed, the diaphragm and jelly method appeared to be the most acceptable and the most desirable. However, certain disadvantages have been encountered, the most serious of which was the long time required to destroy the sperm, lack of eiiicacy due to physical shortcomings of the jelly, the irritation of the delicate vaginal mucosa, and other undesirable features. Many attempts have been made to overcome these disadvantages, but none, so far as I am aware, has been wholly successful and satisfactory in actual practice.

I have discovered that the problem confronting the art can be solved, and that the disadvantages can be overcome by an improved spermicidal composition involving a unique combination of substances which is a departure from the teachings of the prior art. As those skilled in the art are aware, the prior art taught that a spermicidal composition could be made by adding to a semi-solid base an agent selected from the group consisting of acids, alkalies, oxidizing agents, or other classes of chemical substances having germicidal, coagulating, or membranepenetrating properties. However, the very properties of these prior art compositions, which tended to destroy sperm, inherently tended to affect detrimentally and irritate the dilicate vaginal mucosa.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel spermicidal composition containing a diester which can effectively destroy the sperm within relatively short periods of time without irritation of the delicate vaginal mucosa and without other detrimental effects.

It is another object of the invention to provide a novel spermicidal composition having an adequate consistency for mechanical barrier action and which has effective adhesiveness, good spreading power, and miscibility with the vaginal and sperm secretions.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved spermicidal jelly composition which is effective within, a relatively short period of time without irritating delicate bod-y memcranes in which the spermicidal agent consists of fatty acid diesters of polyoxyethylene glycols of the generic formula omens (CHzOCHa) mCHZORb 2 an acid or an alkaline solution in combination with a water dispersible thickening agent having adhesive action and a humectant plasticizing agent, and which is adapted for use in an aqueous vehicle.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a novelspermicidal composition which is easily applied and which is esthetical-ly acceptable to the user with respect to color, odor, and general. ppe r n e- A further object of the invention is to provide a novel spermicidal composition which does not melt or flow out of body cavities at body temperatures and which is water washable for removal thereof.

Moreover, it is a further object of the invention to provide a novel spermicidal composition which is non-toxic, non-irritant and non-stain- 111g".

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.

Broadly stated, the present invention contemplates an improved spermicidal composition involving a novel combination of chemical substances including a spermicidal agent, a thickening agent and a plasticizing agent. The spermicidal agent which I have discovered is uniquely adapted to my novel spermicidal composition is a fatty diester of a polyoxyethylene glycol and is defined by the generic chemical formula:

in which :13 is two-or more, Ra is an acyl radical having sixor more carbon atoms, and Rb is an acyl radical of a fatty acid having six or more carbon atoms, and may be the acyl radical of the same fatty acid or a different fatty acid from that of RM. As a general rule, I use water to make up the balance of the composition. Under certain conditions, I may incorporate a pH buffering agent which is effective within a wide range of pH in the vaginal tract. Moreover, I prefer to incorporate a transparentizing agent in my novel composition to make the product transparent and appealing to the user. This transparntizing agent acts or operates by eliminating air inclusions, which would render the product opaque.

For the purpose of giving those skilled in the art a better understanding of the invention, the following illustrative exampl s, are g Emample No. II

Example N0. VII

Agent Chemical composition g Agent Chemical composition gg 5 Spermicidal agent Hexaoxyethylene glycol di- Sparmicidal agent Nonaoxyethylene glycol 8.0

oleate. mouostearate, monoester of Plasticizing agent Sorbitol 5 an acid including caproic, Thickening agent Tragacanth(2.3%);lrish moss 3.3 heptylic, caprylic, nonylic,

capric, lauric,1nyristic, pal- Preservativc Propyl p-hydroxybenzoatenl. .2 mitic, margaric and stearic Transparentizing agent Alcohol 5.0 10 acids and the unsaturated Vehicle ater Balance acids corresponding thereto.

Plasticizing agent lycerin 6. 0 Thickening agent Trggsacanth (2.5%); acacia 3.0 Example III Preservative Methyl p-hydroxybenzoatc .15

Transparentizing agent Ethyl alcohol 5.0 Percent Vehicle Water Balance Agent Chemical composition age Example No. VIII Spcrnn'cidal agent Nonaoxyethylene glycol mono 8.0

Still-[31136, monolaurate (di- P t es er ercen Plasticiziug agent Glycerin 6. 0 Agent Chemical composmon age Thickening agent Trgagacanth 2.5%); acacia 3.0

.5 Preservative Methyl p-hydroxybeuzoate .15 spermicide-l agent Diester of polyoxyethylene 10.0 Transparentizingagent Alcohol 5.0 glycol of the formula Vehicle WateL. Balance CH: 0 R. (C H2O CH2),-

CHzORt, in which "1". is d anglrlltegerloi a; leaist f2, tRtE 1s eacyraicaoaay other suitable means may be use liavmg d fi P1X .5? on a oms an 6 is e EICampZe N I V acyl radical of a fatty acid difierent from that ofR.. P t and F t; 8 it??? "i ereen unsa ura e am 0 a eas Agent Chemical composition age Six carbon atoms, as dodeca oxyethylene glycol monostearate, mono-oleate. Spermicidal agent Dodecaoxyethylene glycol di- 5. 0 Thicken ng agent Tragacanth 2. 5 laurate. Plasticizmg agent Glycerin 7.0 Plesticizing agent 2.0 Water-soluble bufie Alkali in amount to adjust pH Do Glycerin 7. 0 to 10.0. Thickening agent SoIdium carboxy methyl cellu- 2. 5 Vehicle Water Balance ose. Prescrvative Butylp-hydroxybenzoate... .02 Transparentizing agent" Alcohol 4.0 Example N IX Vehicle Balance Agent Chemical composition g ge Example N0. V

Spermicidal agent Dieslter oi dlodecatethylene gly- 8. 0 co mono aura e, monoacy- Agent Chemical comPO 522 late of a saturated acid of the group consisting of caproic,1 heptylio,l caprylic, S ermicidala ent Pol o eth lene 1 col diester 10.0 1 f aunc y D g oi 13%; cl ass c niisting of fif gi' -gg g marganc 333%. ?;gg; Plasticizing agent Glycerin (3.0%) and sorbitol 6.0 myristic, palmitic, margaric, and steam acids, n the e ne agent agaca -5 corresponding unsaturated Preservat1ve. Butyl p-hydroxybenzoate .02 adds Creamyconsistency Cetylalcohol 5.0 Plasticizing agent Glycerin 5.0 r Thickening agent Tragacanth (3.0%); acacia 3.3 Vehlcle Water Balance Preservative Butyl p-hydroxybenzoate. .02 Transparentizingagent Alcohol 5.0 Example N X g d Water H "i- Balance one ac d s dedfor adi s e t ofp to 5.0.) (p -0). Agent Chemical composition Peggenb these example? the comblpa'tlon plasrbl Spcrmicidal agent Diester of dodecaethylene gly- 5.0 cizing agent and thickener provide desirable ad- 7 colnionoi-gleatamonoacylate of an ac of the oleic series hesive action. The entire group of spermlcidal consisting of undecylemc, agents likewise have desirable spreading power. oleic and erucic acids.

Plasticizing agent Propglgnle glycol (5%) and 10.0

em: 1 o Emample N VI Thickening agent Tragacanth (2.3%); Irish moss 3. 3 Transparentizing agent Ethyl alcohol 5.0 Agent Chemical} composition Percent Creaming agent Cetyl alcohol (1.0%); stcaric 2.0

age acid (1.0%).

grelzlservativc :7utyl p-hydroxybenzoate B 1 .02 Spermicidal agent Dodecaoxyethylene glycol 10.0 e 1610 ate! diester of oleic acid and an acid of the class including I may give the product a white appearance 333. ggg gf g gg gg; or a creamy consistency by the use of such marlstic, palmitic, margaric terials as cetyl alcohol or stearic acid or other g g ggggggg gg ggg ggg cosmetic materials known to the arts for produc- Pl ti nt atgdsi 5 0 ing water-miscible opaque cosmetic creams, as

as cizing age or 1 o Thickening agent Tragacanth (23%); Irish moss 5' 3 exemplified in part 1n the above examples. Gums, P ti P .0 d b t 2 natural or synthetic, may be substituted for gum rlii s grelicn' tgtiti attglaioilofffln f fi 510 tregacanth in the above examples, Such as gums Vehicle Water Balance of the Arabin-type or the Bassorin type, for ex- 35 ample, or synthetic gums produced by condensation of polymerization, such as sodium. carboxymethyl cellulose and hydroxyethyl cellulose. for example, or mixtures thereof with gums having the desired properties, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. Water miscible fatty esters, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycols, sorbitol, or other humectants may be used in place of glycerol in substantially the same pro-- portions.

In the foregoing examples, neither the spermicidal agent nor the other agents can function alone as a spermicidal composition. The spermicidal agent, as a 5% solution in water, for example, would not provide suitable mechanical barrier action, adhesiveness, or many of the other previously mentioned desiderata. The remaining agents would not provide 'spermatocidal activity. Only the entire novel combination will prove effective, non-irritant, and non-toxic. Other preservatives than butyl-p-hydroxybenzoat-e may be used, and the alcohol included in the above examples may be eliminated without detriment to the product.

For the purpose of demonstrating the effectiveness of my novel spermicidal composition and the shortness of time within which the composition operates, tests were made on the following compounds to detemrine the spermicidal time thereof. In these tests, the Brown and Gamble technique was used. For convenience, the spermicidal agent alone is listed in the following table with the spermicidal time, but the remaining agents were similar to those given in Example No. I above:

Table No. I

S permicidal time Percent- Novel spcrmicidaldiester composition age contalnmg- H 01 w was-am U1 The foregoing table clearly shows that the spermicidal times can be varied by the use of different diester spermicidal agent concentrations, but generally speaking, amounts of over 1 of the spermicidal agent are preferred. These tests further demonstrate that the novel spermicidal composition is spermicidally efficient, by accepted testing techniques upon human sperm, upon which the tests were carried out. In additional biological, clinical and physical tests, it was demonstrated that the novel spermicidal composition possesses all the necessary desirable properties previously enumerated, and that the spermicidal agent is table, non-ionic, bland, neutral, nonoxidizing, non-coagulating, and nonirritating to. mucous membranes.

Although several methods of preparing the spermicidal composition are possible, I prefer the following:

The spermicidal agent is melted and heated to about 60 C. and poured into water at the same temperature. The alcohol and preservative are separately mixed with the thickener, and plasticizer is then mixed in in the required amount. The entire mixture is then poured into water, while mixing, and'mixing is continued until a homogeneous jelly is obtained.

Althoughthe invention has been described in connection with preferred, embodiments, it is to be understood that variations and modifications may be resorted to. as will be. apparent to those skilled in the art. Such variations and modifications are to be consideredwithin the purview and scope: of the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An improved spermicidal jelly com-position effective within a relatively short period of time without irritating delicate body membranes contacting therewith which comprises a spermicidal agent consisting of fatty acid. diesters of polyoxyethylene glycols defined by the generic formula CHzORMCI-IzOCHzMCI-I'zORo, in which so. is an integer of at least 2,. Eu is the, acyl radical of a fatty acid having at least six carbon atoms and. Rs is the acyl radical of a fatty acid having at least six carbon atoms, a water dispersible: thickening agent having adhesive action in the composition and a humectant plasticizing agent therefor, said composition being adapted for use in an aqueous vehicle.

2. An improved spermicidal jelly composition effective within a relatively short period of time without irritating delicate body membranes contacting therewith which comprises a spermicidal agent containing a polyoxyethyleneglycol diester of the class consisting of caproic, heptylic, caprylic, nonylic, capric, lauric, myristic, palmitic, margaric, and stearic acids and the correspondding unsaturated acids, a water dispersible thickening agent having adhesive action in the composition and a humectant plasticizing agent therefor, said composition being adapted for use in an aqueous vehicle.

3. An improved spermicidal jelly composition effective within a relatively short period of time without irritating delicate body membranes contacting therewith which comprises a spermicidal agent consisting of fatty acid diesters of polyoxyethyl'ene glycols defined by the. general formula CH2ORa(CH2OCH2)xCH2ORb, in which x is an integer of at least 2, Ba is the acyl radical of a fatty acid having at least six carbon atoms, and Re is the acyl radical of lauric acid, a water dispersible thickening agent having adhesive action in the composition and a humectant plasticizing agent therefor, said composition being adapted for use in an aqueous vehicle.

4:. An improved spermicidal jelly composition effective within a relatively short period of time without irritating delicate body membranes contacting therewith which comprises a spermicidal agent consisting of the diester of polyoxy ethylene glycol of the formula C'H2ORa (.CHzOCHz) eCHsORb in which m is an integer of at least 2, Re is the acyl radicalv of a fatty acid having at least six carbon atoms and Rib is the acyl radical of a fatty acid different from that of Re and may be a fatty acid of the group consisting of saturated fatty acids, and unsaturated fatty acids of the olefinic' series having at least six carbon atoms, a water dispersible thickening agent having adhesive action in the composition and a humectant plasticizing agent therefor, said composition being adapted for use in an aqueous vehicle.

5. An improved spermicidal jelly composition effective within a relatively short period of time without irritating delicate body membranes contacting therewith which comprises a spermicidal agent consisting of fatty acid diesters of polyoxyethylene glycols defined by the generic formula CI-IzORa(CH2OCHz)aCHzORb, in which at is an integer of at least 2, Ra and Rb are the acyl radicals of lauric acid, a water dispersible thickening agent having adhesive action in the composition and a humectant plasticizing agent therefor, said composition being adapted for use in an aqueous vehicle.

6. An improved spermicidal jelly composition effective within a relatively short period of time without irritating delicate body membranes contacting therewith which comprises a spermicidal agent consisting of the fatty acid diesters of polyoxyethylene glycols defined by the generic formula CH20'Ra(CH2OCH2)a:CH2ORb, in which :12 is an integer of at least 2, and in which one of the groups Ra, Ra is the acyl radical of oleic acid and the other of said groups is the acyl radical of a fatty acid having at least six carbon atoms, a water dispersible thickening agent having adhesive action in the composition and a humectant plasticizing agent therefor, said composition being adapted for use in an aqueous vehicle.

7. An improved spermicidal jelly composition effective within a relatively short period of time without irritating delicate body membranes contacting therewith which comprises a spermicidal agent consisting of the fatty acid diesters of polyoxyethylene glycols defined by the generic formula CHzORa(CI-I2OCIIz)aCH2ORa, in which an is an integer of at least 2, one of the groups Ra, Ra is the acyl radical of stearic acid and the other of said groups is the acyl radical of a fatty acid having at least six carbon atoms, a Water dispersible thickening agent having adhesive action in the composition and a humectant plasticizing agent therefor, said composition being adapted for use in an aqueous vehicle.

8. An improved spermicidal jelly composition effective within a relatively short period of time without irritating delicate body membranes contacting therewith which comprises a spermicidal agent consisting of dodecaoxyethylene glycol dilaurate, a water dispersable thickening agent having adhesive action in the composition and a humectant plasticizing agent therefor, said composition being adapted for use in an aqueous vehicle.

9. An improved spermicidal jelly composition effective within a relatively short period of time without irritating delicate body membranes contacting therewith which comprises a spermicidal agent consisting of oleic acid diesters of polyoxyethylen glycols defined by the generic formula CI-IzO-Ra(CHzOCI-I2)a-CI-IzORb, in which at is an integer of at least 2, and the groups Ra are the acyl radicals of oleic acid, a water-dispersible thickening agent having adhesive action in the composition and a humectant plasticizing agent therefor, said composition being adapted for use in an aqueous vehicle.

10. An improved spermicidal jelly composition effective within a relatively short period of time without irritating delicate body membranes contacting therewith which comprises a spermicidal agent consisting of dodecaoxyethylene glycol dilaurate, gum tragacanth as a thickening agent and glycerite of boroglycerin and glycerin as a humectant plasticizing agent therefor, together with butyl p-hydroxybenzoate as a preservative and alcohol as a transparentizing agent, said composition being adapted for use in an aqueous vehicle.

11. An improved spermicidal jelly composition effective within a relatively short period of time 12. An improved spermicidal jelly compositioneffective within a relatively short period of time without irritating delicate body membranes con-1 tacting therewithwhich comprises a spermicidal agent consisting of the diester of dodecaethylene glycol mono-oleate, mono-acylate of an acid of the group consisting of caproic, heptylic, caprylic, nonylic, capric, lauric, myristic, pahnitic, margaric, and stearic acids and the corresponding unsaturated acids, a water-dispersible thickening agent having adhesive action in the composition, a humectant plasticizing agent and a watersoluble buffer for adjusting the pH of the solution, said composition being adapted for use in an aqueous vehicle.

13. An improved spermicidal jelly composition effective within a relatively short period of time without irritating delicate body membranes contacting therewith which comprises a spermicidal agent consisting of fatty acid diesters of polyoxyethylene glycols defined by the generic formulae CH2ORa(CH2OCH2)ICH2ORb, in which as is an integer of at least 2, Ra is the acyl radical of a fatty acid having at least six carbon atoms and Rb is the acyl radical of a fatty acid having at least six carbon atoms, a water dispersible thickening agent having adhesive action in the composition, a humectant plasticizing agent therefor and a buffering agent providing a pH within the acid range, said composition being adapted for use in an aqueous vehicle.

14. An improved spermicidal jelly composition effective within a relatively short period of time without irritating delicate body membranes contacting therewith which comprises a' spermicidal agent consisting of fatty acid diesters of polyoxyethylene glycols defined by the generic formula CH2ORa(CH2OCH2)zCH2ORb, in which ac is an integer of at least 2, Ra is the acyl radical of a fatty acid having at least six carbon atoms and Rh is the acyl radical of a fatty acid having at least six carbon atoms, a water dispersible thickening agent having adhesive action in the composition, a humectant plasticizing agent therefor and a buffering agent providing a pH in the com position within the alkaline range, said composition being adapted for use in an aqueous vehicle.

ABRAHAIW TATE REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Elias Apr. 19, 1949 OTHER. REFERENCES Number 

1. AN IMPROVED SPERMICIDAL JELLY COMPOSITION EFFECTIVE WITHIN A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WITHOUT IRRITATING DELICATE BODY MEMBRANES CONTACTING THEREWITH WHICH COMPRISES A SPERMICIDAL AGENT CONSISTING OF FATTY ACID DIESTERS OF POLYOXYETHYLENE GLYCOLS DEFINED BY THE GENERIC FORMULA CH2ORA(CH2OCH2)XCH2ORB, IN WHICH "X" IS AN INTEGER OF AT LEAST 2, "RA" IS THE ACYL RADICAL OF A FATTY ACID HAVING AT LEAST SIX CARBON ATOMS AND "RB" IS THE ACYL RADICAL OF A FATTY ACID HAVING AT LEAST SIX CARBON ATOMS, A WATER DISPERSIBLE THICKENING AGENT HAVING ADHESIVE ACTION IN THE COMPOSITION AND A HUMECTANT PLASTICIZING AGENT THEREFOR, SAID COMPOSITION BEING ADAPTED FOR USE IN AN AQUEOUS VEHICLE. 